Chapter 165 Update 1
Zheng Capital’s streets had not bustled this much in years. Hezheng Avenue, leading to the Imperial Palace as well as the most thriving alleys of the Zheng Capital, welcomed nobles from outside the city. Each aristocratic family’s procession occupied most of the street, with hundreds of servants and dozens of carriages for carrying gifts, drawing the attention of civilians and teahouse patrons alike, who peered outside eagerly.
This was just the beginning, with the Empress Dowager’s birthday still nearly a month away. The peak of arrivals had not yet been reached. These families had sent servants a month in advance to clean the courtyards and purchase necessities, all in preparation for their arrival, when they would reside in ancient mansions or villas within the Imperial City.
These families were once the meritorious supporters who helped Zheng State’s ancestors conquer the land. After enjoying the first wave of power, the wisest among them gracefully receded from public affairs, cleverly concealing their influence behind the scenes. Those less wise still managed to maintain a reputation for integrity.
The arrival most anticipated by the populace was that of the Four Great Families of Nanzheng. The Zong Sheng Aristocratic Family, the Shiping Aristocratic Family, the Wuxing Aristocratic Family, and the Hejian Aristocratic Family were ones whose descendants were now completely absent from politics or even local governance, keeping a very low profile without involving themselves in political matters.
However, as the Empress Dowager’s birthday approached, stories of the Four Great Families’ glorious past achievements and strategic exploits once again circulated in teahouses, becoming the talk of the town.
The Wuxing Aristocratic Family and the Hejian Aristocratic Family had already arrived in the Imperial City. Since the Hejian Aristocratic Family had marital ties with the Fu Feng Aristocratic Family, they did not stay in their own mansions but lived together in a separate residence arranged by the Ma Family of Fu Feng. Every detail was chosen with utmost care, showcasing their noble status.
"Back in the day, the Zhang Family of Hejian extended the northwest borders of Nanzheng State by a factor of two with their 500,000 strong cavalry. They even defeated the giants of the North Meng Tribe, and eleven small nations came forth to pay homage, bringing with them 10,000 oxen, what a sight... Tsk tsk tsk, so called ’When a nation prospers, hundreds will come to celebrate’, half of that was because of the Zhang Family of Hejian..."
"Brother Shen, as a Northwesterner, you must be very familiar with the affairs of the Zhang Family of Hejian," Lin Haosi said clasping his fists in a faux salute, showing great interest in the storyteller’s narrative. However, the storyteller was clearly about to end this segment and move on to the other three families. Lin Haosi quickly spoke up.
"The Zhang Family of Hejian keeps a very low profile in the Northwest, seldom making public appearances, and we, being men of no consequence, devote ourselves to studying instead," Shen Houmu said without taking pride in sharing his hometown with the famous Zhang Family nor engaging in exaggerated discussions like other locals in the teahouse.